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2 ex-Flyers bring Stanley Cup to A.C. casino

The Los Angeles Kings have started their Stanley Cup celebration tour. (Mark J. Terrill/AP)

By Peter Mucha, Inquirer Staff Writer

Posted: August 03, 2012

Lots of local hockey fans would love to see the Stanley Cup.

But maybe not if it's being presented by two former Flyers who helped win it just this season for another team.

The Flyers' last championship came in 1975, and fans have since endured the heartbreak of losing in the finals a half-dozen times.

Thursday afternoon at Caesars Atlantic City, the famous trophy will be accompanied by Los Angeles Kings forward Justin Williams and Kings assistant coach John Stevens, with Trenton Titans assistant coach Todd Fedoruk, another ex-Flyer in attendance.

In June, Williams' four goals and 11 assists helped propel the Kings to the franchise's first-ever National Hockey League championship. The Flyers draftee also won a title in 2006 with the Carolina Hurricanes, after being traded from Philadelphia.

The event, scheduled for 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the casino lobby, will let fans pose next to the cup for photographs.

Stevens, also drafted by the Flyers, was the club's head coach from 2006 to 2009.

The Kings, as fans know all too well, featured ex-Flyer centers Jeff Carter (8 goals) and Mike Richards (4 goals, 11 assists), and had injury-riddled left winger Simone Gagne, who played a decade with the Flyers. Further rubbing salt into the wound is that L.A.'s assistant general manager was former Flyers goaltender Ron Hextall.

The feisty Fedoruk, also a Flyers draftee, played seven seasons with the team, racking up impressive amounts of penalty minutes.

Contact staff writer Peter Mucha at 215-854-4342 or pmucha@phillynews.com.